Climate Change & UNSC Reform On Modi-Obama Agenda In New York

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Summit on Monday, September 28th, 2015 with the U.S. President Barack Obama focused on climate change and India’s appeal for reform of the U.N. Security Council. Modi’s America visit saw him travel to the West Coast, visiting San Jose, Calif., where he interacted with the tech giants. In a message before leaving for home, Modi said his U.S. visit demonstrates the “extraordinary depth and diversity” of the bilateral relationship and that a lot of ground had been covered in his five days in the U.S.

Modi said, “As terrorism threats grow, we have resolved to deepen our cooperation.” He also thanked Obama for the U.S.’ support to India for a permanent seat in a reformed U.N. Security Council and appreciated its support for India’s membership of the international export control regimes within a targeted time frame.

This was the third meeting between the leaders of the world’s oldest and the largest democracy in about a year. They met last year during Modi’s US visit and then in January earlier this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met US President Barack Obama in New York and discussed a host of issues. Obama warmly received Modi by hugging him before their meeting, the third between them since May last year. “I am encouraged by India’s commitment to clean energy. Its leadership on climate change will set tone for decades,” President Obama said after the meeting. We appreciate our friendship and partnership with India,” the US president said.

As per reports, Modi flew down from San Jose, holding bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister David Cameron and later with French President Francois Hollande. In his address at the Leaders’ Summit on U.N. Peacekeeping, hosted by the U.S., Modi said India is ready to contribute monetarily to a memorial for slain U.N. Peacekeepers. He announced new contributions to the U.N. Peacekeeping Operations including additional battalion of up to 850 troops.

The peak of the 5 day visit was the India-U.S. summit meeting, lasting an hour, saw Modi and Obama exchange warm hugs in greeting, in a reiteration of the personal chemistry between the two leaders. Obama in his media statement, said his talks with Modi focused on climate change and the upcoming climate change talks in Paris. He said both sides agreed that it is a crucial issue and all countries have responsibility for fighting climate change. Obama said he was “encouraged by the impressive nature of Modi’s commitment to clean energy. And I really think the Indian leadership in the upcoming Paris conference will set the tone not just today but in the decades to come (on climate change).”

India and the US discussed trade, investment, defense and education. Modi, in his statement, said the U.S. president and he “share an uncompromising commitment on climate change, without affecting our ability to meet the development aspirations of humanity. We have both set ambitious national agendas.”

Talking about his visit to the West Coast, the PM said, “I was in Silicon Valley over the weekend and experienced the strength of American innovation and enterprise. Youth, technology and innovation are the driving forces for the natural partnerships of Indians and Americans in advancing human progress,” the PM said. The meeting gave the two leaders an opportunity to build on the discussions they had in New Delhi in January when Obama travelled to India to attend the Republic Day Parade as its chief guest.

In the dialogue, India and the US on Monday agreed to deepen cooperation in fighting terrorism and asked Pakistan to bring to justice the 2008 Mumbai attack perpetrators. The Modi-Obama meeting comes close on the heels of the conclusion of the inaugural strategic and commercial dialogue between the US and India.